Parachute composed of alternating taut and loose ribbons



Jan. 17, 1950 F. s. WEINIG PARACHUTE COMPOSED OF ALTERNATING TAUT AND LOOSE RIBBONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1.3, 1947 few/EV Jan. 17, 1950 F. s. WEINIG PARACHUTE COMPOSED 0F ALTERNATING TAUT AND LOOSE RIBBONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 19%? INVENTOR. FIG/0106 .5. I'VE/A06 Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE PARACHUTE COMPOSED F ALTERNATING TAUT AND LOOSE RBBONS Friedrich Stefan Weinig, Stuttgart-Moehringen, Germany Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to parachutes generally and more particularly a ribbon parachute of load sustaining ribbon type in which the canopy is composed of load sustaining ribbons which incline upwardly from a plurality of points equally spaced around the canopy skirt, the ribbons each extending across the top of the canopy at one side of the apex vent and downwardly and secured to the skirt at another of the equally spaced points at the opposite sidefrom the commencement point of the ribbon, this arrangement forming a ribbon canopy in which the ribbons cross each other diagonally throughout the canopy area to provide a multitude of rhombic shaped openings throughout the canopy area, providing air permeability at high speeds from the interior to the exterior and air turbulence at the openings which quickly decelerates the canopy to a safe rate of descent without oscillation or excessive initial open shock on the occupant or load being lowered by the parachute.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the rate of descent and oscillation characteristics of the above parachute by arranging the crossing ribbons so as to increase th resistance to the air fiowing through the rhombic shaped openings together with an increase in th turbulence in this air.

' A further object is the provision of ribbon bafiie means located in the rhombic shaped openings so as to retard the air flow through the openings and reduce the final descent velocity.

A still further object is the provision of a ribbon parachute canopy having primary load sustaining ribbons and secondary narrower load sustaining ribbons extending across the canopy intermediate the wider primary ribbons, in which the narrower ribbons cross each other intermediate the rhombic shaped openings that are formedbetween the edges of adjacent wider ribbons and are loosely tensioned between the edges of the rhombic shaped openings so as to fiex outwardly beyond the surface curvature of the wider ribbons during the descent of the chute, to retard the free passage of air through the rhombic shaped openings and therefore decrease the permeability of the canopy during final descent.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of my improved ribbon parachute, some of the ribbons in the upper part of the canopy and the lower porti'ons of the shroud lines being broken away and a portion of the canopy shown in phantom.

.Fi'g. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of a portion of the canopy more clearly illustrating the ribbon arrangement.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, showing the position of the ribbons during descent.

Fig. 4. is a sectional view somewhat similar to Fig; 3, taken on the plane indicated by the section line t--4 in Fig. 2; and

. Fig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic enlarged sectional view taken on 5-5 Fig. 2, showing the air currents passing through the rhombic openings as being indicated by the arrows.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l the reference numeral 1 indicates the canopy of a ribbon parachute having a base or skirt portion 2 and an apex 3, and an apex Vent 4.

The primary or load sustaining ribbons 5 each extend upwardly from one of their ends, from one of a plurality of equally spaced points 6, 6 located around the lower edge of the skirt portion 2. These ribbons taken progressively around the parachute, all incline upwardly and extend across the top or apex portion 3 at one side thereof and then extend downwardly, terminating at one of the space points 6, located at the other side of the canopy from the commencement point of the ribbon. For instance, the reference numerals 1 all indicate end portions of the ribbons 5 which incline upwardly from the near side of the canopy while the reference numerals 8 indicate the other ends of the ribbons 5 which incline upwardly from corresponding points 6-6 located at the far side of the canopy and cross the top and extend downwardly at the near side of the canopy in oblique crossing relation to the upwardly inclined portions 1 of the ribbons in the near side of the canopy. The opposite ends of certain pairs of the ribbons which commence on the near and far sides of the canopy are each secured together, each pair being preferably secured together at one of the spaced aforesaid points 6. A reinforcing annular webbing or ribbon 9 may be provided extending around the lower edge of the skirt with the adjoining ends of the pairs of ribbons 5 secured thereto at the regularly spaced points 6.

.Depending from the annular band 9 and se 3 cured thereto at the ribbon junctures 6, 6 or directly secured to the adjoining ends of the pairs of ribbons 5 are light intermediate shroud lines is, connected at their lower ends to an inverted annular catenary cable. or bolt rope H, formed with a series of inverted catenary curves or arched curvatures. The main shroud lines or shock cords proper are indicated at [2, each being, secured to the bolt rope H and extending downwardly therefrom between the adjacent ends of each pair of the inverted catenaries II-.

This arrangement of the primary load sustaining ribbons 5 throughout the canopy area forms. a ribbon canopy of load sustaining ribbons all obliquely crossing each other-between the apex- 3'- and the base 2 to form a multitude of rhombic shaped air permeability or air escape openings is located between the edges of adjacent and crossing ribbons and uniformly distributed throughout the canopy area. the parachute air entering thecanopy from below permeates through these. rhombic openings [3: from the interior of the-canopy and sets upan air turbulence as itleaves each: of the rhombic openings in a somewhat concentrated jet form, as

shown diagramatically at [4 and Fig. 5. Thisair jet and the turbulence associated therewith retards the free now ofair through the openings I3 and consequently decreases the permeability and the rate of descent of the chute. chute initially opens at high. speeds the-edges of the ribbons flex outwardly to increase the size. of the openings: l3; increasing the initial permeability to materially reduce the initial openingshock, allowing the chute to decelerategradually to a normal descent rate as the ribbons returntotheir normal configuration with the hemispherical curvature of the, canopy; due. to. the gradual reduction in air pressure withinthe canopy following a release of the chute from an aircraft: travelling at a high rate of speech Secondary ribbons l5. are provided which are somewhat longer and preferably narrower than the primary load sustaining ribbons 5 andalsonarrower than the spaces between the adjacent edges of adjacent load sustaining ribbons 5, particularly throughout the lower portions of the. canopy, above the skirt portion 2. The secondary ribbons 55 are laid across the canopy in the same manner as the primary ribbons 5-, one of the secondary ribbons extending across the topof the canopy between the adjacent edges of each 01' the adjacent primary ribbons. The op posite ends of the ribbon-s l5 are secured to'the' annular band 5 intermediate. each pair of adjacent points 6. If desired the ends of these secondary ribbons i5: may be connected to the catenaries i l by light cords or secondary shroud lines. 6 to render the secondary ribbons partially or fully load suspending. As before set forth, the secondary ribbons 9 5- are longer than the primaryribbons 5 so that a considerable amount of slack is initially present between the secured ends of the secondary ribbons as compared to the primary ribbons 5 at either side thereof. Referring to Fig. 2, this slack is uniformly proportioned, as near as possible, between each of the adjacent points where the secondary ribbons l5 cross the primary ribbons 5. At these points the ribbons 5 and i5 are securely stitched together or otherwise fastened as by cementing, as indicated at ll. If desirable the points of crossing of the primary ribbons 5 may be also stitched or secured together as indicated at 18.. The construction leaves a definite predetermined slackin the sec- In the descent of When. the

ondary ribbons between each of their adjacent secured portions [1, with the points of crossing of the secondary ribbons l5 located directly over the centers of each of the rhombic openings 13, the secondary ribbons being. stitchedor suitably secured together at'their crossing portions as indicated at 19.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the unsecured or slack portions of each of the ribbons !5, located between each of the stitched portions H, are suificient to allow the crossing stitched portions I9- to fiex outwardly of the contour of the canopy surface formed by the primary load suspension ribbons 5, the air escaping through the rhombic openings [3 which strikes the crossing portions of theribbons I5, is obstructed and deflected laterally. The crossing portions of the ribbons l5 constitute baiiles or obstructions to the flow of the air through the rhombic openings.

Referring to Fig. 5, diagrammatically illustrating by arrows the direction of flow of the air through the rhombic openings i3 during descent of the canopy, it should be observed that the air passes outwardly from the canopy interior and is deflected or concentrated in a somewhat jet form toward the central axisof the rhombic shaped openings causing a turbulence and a resistance to free flow at a short distance beyond the curvature of the primary ribbons 5. The slack in the secondary ribbons I5 is suflicient toallow the flexible fabric strips or supplemental ribbon l5= toadjust themselves in positions as shown in Fig. 5, substantially in the center of this jet air how and turbulence, causing anabrupt deflection of the air and a further increase inturbulence. This reduces the permeability of the canopy: structurecausing a corresponding safe and satisfactory finalrate of descent of the canopy.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made; by thoseskilled in the art to which the invention appertains; in the details of the embodiment of" the invention disclosed in the drawings and described above without departing from the principles andscopeof theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Ina ribbon parachute, a canopy having an apex Vent, a skirt, and a plurality of load sustaining ribbons inclining upwardly from points equally spaced around the canopy skirt and extending across the top ofthe canopy atone side of the apex vent and downwardly to certain of said spaced-points located at the opposite side of the canopy, forminga canopy of, obliquely crossing ribbons having rhombic shaped o p e ni n g s throughout the canopy area between the edgesof the ribbons, a; plurality of secondary ribbons extending across the rhombic shaped openings between the primary ribbons and secured to the primary ribbons at each side of each of the openings, each ofsaid-secondary ribbons being greater in length thanthe primary ribbons so as to be displaced outwardly of the surface contour of the primary ribbons by the air passing through the-rhombic-shaped openings to form obstructions to the free passage of air from the interior of the canopy to. the exterior during descent.

2; In, a, ribbon parachute, a preformed reticulated. canopy having an. apex; and an annular skirt portion and composed of primary ribbon-scrossing each other throughout the canopy area to form air permeability openings between the edges of the primary ribbons, secondary ribbons crossing each other intermediate the, adjacent edges of the primary ribbons and secured to the primary ribbons, said secondary ribbons having sufiicient slack between their secured portions to lie with their crossing portions disposed in exteriorly spaced relation from the surface curvature of the primary ribbons during descent of the canopy to form obstructions disposed exteriorly in spaced relation to the center of the rhombic shaped openings and over the same to retard the free flow of air through the last mentioned openings during the descent of the parachute.

3. A reticulated parachute canopy having a multitude of rhombic shaped air permeability openings distributed throughout the canopy area, and flexible strip members loosely extending across the openings in intersecting relation to each other to be displaced outwardly of the canopy surface by air passing through the openings during descent of canopy, said flexible strip members constituting baffle means for each of the rhombic shaped openings, preventing the free passage of air through the openings from the interior of the canopy during descent of the parachute.

' 4. A reticulated parachute canopy of pre formed substantially hemispherical shape having a multitude of rhombic shaped air escape openings extending therethrough, uniformly distributed throughout the canopy area, flexible ribbon like members secured at their ends to the canopy and extending loosely across the rhombic shaped openings in directions intersecting each other at the center of each of the openings, to be displaced outwardly of the preformed canopy surface at the center of each of the openings by air passing through the openings from the interior of the canopy during descent said flexible ribbon like members constituting spaced baflle means located over the centers of the openings, for retarding the passage of air through the openings from the interior of the canopy during its descent.

5. A reticulated parachute canopy of preformed substantially hemispherical shape comprising a multitude of regularly spaced load sustaining flexible ribbons angularly crossing each other throughout the canopy area to form a reticulated canopy having rhombic shaped air permeability openings extending therethrough between the edges of the ribbons and uniformly distributed throughout the canopy area, air baille flexible ribbon members of lesser width than the width of rhombic shaped openings, extending loosely across each of the openings in intersecting relation to each other at the centers of the openings and. secured to the load sustaining ribbons at each side of the openings and displaceable outwardly of the canopy over the centers of the openings by the passage of air through the openings from the interior of the canopy to the exterior during descent of the parachute to form spaced air retarding baflie means extending across the openings for retarding passage of air through the openings during the descent of the parachute.

6. A reticulated parachute canopy of preformed substantially hemispherical curvature having a multitude of regularly spaced primary load sus taining flexible ribbons crossing each other throughout the canopy area to form a reticulated canopy having air permeability openings extending therethrough between the edges of the said ribbons and distributed throughout the canopy area, a plurality of flexible secondary ribbon members located intermediate the primary load sustaining ribbons and crossing each other at the centers of the air permeability openings and secured to the primary load sustaining ribbons at opposite sides of the air permeability openings with suflicient slack between their secured por-' tions to be displaced outwardly to a predetermined spaced relation to the canopy curvature of the adjacent primary load sustaining ribbons by the passage of air passing through the openings from the interior of the canopy to the exterior during descent of the parachute, the curvature of the secondary ribbons arching outwardly from opposite sides of the openings with sufiicient slack between their secured. portions to be outwardly of the canopy surface in spaced relation to the curvature of the primary load sustaining ribbons and over the centers of the air permeability openings, said arched portions of the secondary ribbons constituting spaced air retarding baffle means disposed outwardly of the openings for retarding the passage of air through the opening during the descent of the canopy.

'7. In a preformed load sustaining ribbon parachute canopy of substantially hemispherical shape having an annular skirt portion and an apex, a multitude of primary load sustaining ribbons inclining upwardly in the same direction from points uniformly spaced around the skirt portion and crossing the apex of the canopy at one side thereof and inclining downwardly to the skirt portion to the spaced points at the opposite side to form a reticulated canopy having rhombic shaped openings between the edges,

of the adjacent ribbons throughout the canopy area; the improvement which comprises intermediate air bafile ribbons of greater length and the lesser width than the load sustaining ribbons, extending across the canopy from one side to the other side and disposed intermediate the edges of the load sustaining ribbons, the intermediate ribbons being secured to the load sustaining ribbons with slack intermediate the edges of the load sustaining ribbons to cause the crossing portions of the intermediate ribbons to be displaced outwardly during descent of the canopy by air from the interior of the canopy escaping through the openings, said intermediate ribbons constituting baffle means spaced outwardly of the rhombic shaped openings to retard the free flow of air through the opening from the interior of the canopy.

8. In a load sustaining ribbon parachute canopy having an apex and a skirt portion, primary load sustaining ribbons extending from points uniformly spaced around the canopy skirt and obliquely crossing each other to form rhombic shaped air permeability openings throughout the canopy area between the edges of the crossing ribbons, a plurality of secondary air baffle ribbons extending across the canopy in obliquely disposed crossing relation to each other intermediate the edges of the primary load sustaining ribbons, said secondary ribbons being of lesser width than the space between the adjacent edges of the adjacent primary load sustaining ribbons at skirt portion, said secondary length load sustaining ribbons being of greater length than the length of the primary ribbons to provide slack between the secured portions of the secondary ribbons sulficient to cause the crossing portions of the secondary ribbons to be retained in air bafliing position outwardly of the surface curvature of the load sustaining ribbons at opposite sides of the rhombic shaped openings to retard the passage of air through the rhombic shaped openings from the interior of the canopy during the descent of the parachute.

9. In ribbon parachute, a canopy having an apex and a skirt, load sustaining ribbons inclining-upwardly from pointssequally spaced;around the :canopy skirt and :extending across the top of ithe canopy atone side of .the apex and downwardly to certain of'said.spaced'pointszlocated at theopposite side of 'the canopy,-to form a'multitude 'of oblique primary crossing ribbons with rhombic shaped openings therebetween throughout the canopy area, a plurality of secondary ribbons extending loosely across the rhombic shaped openingsbetweentheqprimary ribbons and secured to the primary'ribbons at each side of the openings eachaof said secondary ribbons being greater'in length than :the primary ribbons and displaceableout of the linevof surface curvature :of theprimaryribbon's by the air passing through the rhombic shaped'openings from-the interior of the canopy'fduring' descent, 'constituting a flexible 'obstruction or bafiieto the passage of air passing through the :rhombic shaped opening during the descent of the parachute.

10. A reticulated parachute canopy having a multitude of .rhombic shaped air permeability openings distributedthroughout the'canopy area,

and-flexible elongated 'striprlmembers loosely "extending across the centersof the openings-and secured to the canopy at opposite sides of the openings, to be displaced outwardly of the canopy surface intermediate their secured portions by air passing through the openings during descent of canopy, said flexible-strip members constituting baffle means extending across'the central-portions of the rhombic shaped openings outwardly of the canopy surface, preventing the free passage of air-through the-central portions of the openings fromtheinterior ofzthe canopy during descent of the parachute.

FRIEDRICH STEFAN WEINIG.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references areof record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country "Date 791,827 France Oct. 7, 1935 827,528 France Jan. 28, 1938 

